RSVP (invitations)

The abbreviation and A. w. g is often on formal invitations and means " to reply is requested ". This indicates the invitees to the fact that the host is dependent on knowing how many guests he has set itself (eg for table cards, seating arrangements, room size ... ). Usually also a target day is specified, for example: u A. w. g to 20 October 2011 so that the host can then prepare for the event. Sometimes there also clothing needs are expressed, for example: "We ask for formal evening attire" or " evening dress requested ".

Today, the shortcut applies in Germany in the commercial and rude especially in the private correspondence obsolete and latent, since the passive ( " is requested " ) is impersonal and the addressee in the "processing " of the request is assumed unreliability. In addition, many recipients do not know the abbreviation and therefore does not respond to what the purpose of absurdity.

In Austria, this abbreviation is also used and is still privately than usual, especially in invitations to larger family celebrations, such as weddings or academic celebrations.

The French and also in common use in the English language form is " rsvp " ( s'il vous plaît répondez ) or "RSVP" or in the event that no response is desired, " nrsvp " (ne pas s'il vous plaît répondez ).

Since at least 1828 there along with others, the supposedly ignorant or jocular interpretation as " And in the evening there is dancing ," which finds expression in the literature especially in the 19th century.